I wanted to know if resupply ships are better on their own or as part of a fleet. I started adding resupply ships to my fleet shortly after being able to build them hoping they would extend the range of my fleets but when I went to test this theory they never tried to refuel the ships that needed it, all the vessels just kept going until they were out of fuel.

Ideally, send them ahead of the fleet. If you do get a fleet stuck without fuel then send them to the nearest system with an appropriate fuel source and send the resupply ship there also. I would only send them with a fleet (and even then I wouldn't have them actually join it) if your attacking an enemy system and want to have a refuel point in that very system. Then the resupply ship can help with the attack before moving to a handy gas giant. Mostly though you wouldn't need to do that.

Resupply ships are somewhat unique in that they can be incredibly massive, powerful weapons platforms. They tend to be very slow, but you can load a devastating amount of firepower on to them. I have used them offensively on several occasions, but usually I send them independently to establish refueling positions prior to an invasion, and have my fleet refuel close to their target prior to invading for maximum mobility.

speaking of resupply ships I find them incredibly annoying that they undeploy from a gas planet to attack or defend themselves. Is there a way to stop this? surely they can fire their weapons like a base while deployed? I dont like to redeploy them every 10 minutes when they get attack by lowly pirate escorts and such...

I build fleets with ships that have a lot of fuel cells (typically around 3 times the ship design default) so they are always on the move looking for targets. As they have a lot of capacity, refuelling will often be combined with retrofitting, in which case they will return to a homeworld large space port. In combination I will progressively build gas mining stations in rings around my territory both to provide refuelling sources and long range scanning.

I also play without resupply ships. But mostly because I find their use not very intuitive. I think the game should be a bit more clear or smart about them. For instance, why can't I just load a resupply ship up with fuel, add it to a fleet and watch them refuel in deep space whenever they need it? I want that!

They are probably not very intuitive to use, but I find them a very fun part of the game. I tend to play with AI designs or designs not being way different than them, and managing fuel and range is one of the interesting things about the game.

Once I "start moving", I build a resupply ship or two, and park them on good fuel sources. If that doubles as a scanner position all the better. If I got a part of the empire with poor fuel supply, I may choose to deploy one there to fuel the defenders.

Whenever war happens, there will be some ship full of fuel that may move ahead and deploy, giving a very good fuel source. If the front moves, so will the resupply ship.

Another feature of a Resuppl Ship: It can refuel itself if it got the right fuel gas on cargo. Other ships can't do that. I design a military ship with a Energy to Fuel converter, these module generate Caslon and Hydrogen at the Cargo. But these ship don't refuel with these fuel gas, they dock on a base to refuel and use the gas from these base.

A mobile refuelling point. What could be better. Place several around the galaxy map to 'aid' your allies. Indeed, long-range scanning component is a must on any resupply ship but we all know that....

Anyways, the concept is cool, the fact that the thing is mobile is cool.... It is just cool....yeah? I love using them. They make me look........yep... You guessed it... cool.

Attention: all words in this particular post are mine. I typed them. I thought of them first. If any of you nice old chaps wish to quote or use any or whole of my material then please ask for my permission by emailing me at ilovedistantworlds@nobodycares.co.uk.

I'd love to see the ability to design fuel tankers in this game and / or share / equalize fuel between ships in a fleet. Its one of the few really really obvious things missing from an otherwise deep and detailed game.

With the latest update in place, is that normal that DEPLOYED supply ships do not fire weapons?

I built huge supply ships, which supposed to support my front line fleets, but they are unusable and requires too much micro as they cant protect themselves when deployed....

Any ideas are welcomed....

It's weird - I had this happen to me too. I had three resupply ships get destroyed while deployed in a gas cloud (I sat there and watched them all die). But when I tested it again yesterday, when they were attacked, they undeployed and fired weapons while undeploying.

I have no idea why I saw two different behaviors on two different occasions. Maybe I had the settings in the design screen set differently or something...